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The coming out post was Zo’s idea.
The day their first binder arrived in the mail, they ripped open the package and threw it on before any of the three could stop to think. It was a waist-length one that matched their skin tone, and Rumi and Mira knew it fit perfectly from the gleeful squeals that rang out from the bathroom.
Rumi took a picture of them right then and there: binder on, in front of the mirror, short haired, and smiling so, so widely. The shower curtain behind them had shades of blue and pink in its stripes, which was a happy coincidence. The second the maknae saw it, they knew it had to be the photo they used. It went perfectly with a simple caption when it was uploaded to Instagram: “Call me Zo ✨”.
The reactions flooded in immediately. “OMG congrats on the gender!!” “You look so handsome!” “I KNEW IT I knew I wasn't crazy!!!” The same fanbase that loved and supported Mira also welcomed Zo with open arms, and it warmed all their hearts to see.
But there were other reactions, less positive ones, and those were the ones that Mira caught Zo scrolling through late one night.
The glow of a phone screen prodded at her eyes as she tried to sleep, and she rolled over in bed to face her boyfriend.
“Zo, what are you doing?” she mumbled through her drowsiness. “You know we have to be at the studio tomorr–”
She stopped cold when she saw what was on the phone screen. Headlines like HUNTR/X: Bad influence for kids? and worse that she didn't want to repeat, boring their way into Zo’s head. Mira reached over and grabbed the phone, snatching it away despite his protests.
“Hey!”
“You can't stay up late looking at hate comments. It's not good for you.”
“I know, I just…” Zo fumbled for words. “I feel like I have to know what they're saying.”
“If it was a hate article about me, would you want me to be reading it?” Mira questioned.
“N-No, of course not!” Zo stammered. “I guess there's just a part of me that thinks… what if what they say about me is true?”
“Oh, Zo…” Mira wrapped an arm around him. “I promise it's not true. You're strong and brave and talented and anyone would be lucky to know you. I know me and Rumi certainly are.”
This seemed to calm his mind just a bit. He rolled over to face Mira and gave her a soft smile.
“Thank you. You're right, fuck the haters. Well, not literally because ew, but fuck them.”
The two giggled and pulled each other closer, closing their eyes to get back to sleep.
Into the darkness, Zo whispered, “I'm really glad I have you too, you know that?”
-
There were officially seven days left until their comeback, and HUNTR/X was bouncing around the living room. Rumi was running through some choreography and singing lyrics to herself, and Zo was twirling around and gesturing with their hands.
“Okay, I was thinking, when we film the next video, wouldn’t it be fun to have a cozy, chilling at home concept? Like a slumber party. Something cute and relatable, to balance out how fancy the Golden video was.”
“If that means we get to film in pajamas, count me in,” said Mira. She’d been tidying up, a habit of hers when she was stressed, picking up candy wrappers and sweeping dust off of shelves. At some point, the house would be clean enough for her to stop worrying and think clearly. She hoped, at least.
“I’m just really excited for the fans to hear these new songs,” Zo went on. “I worked so hard on those lyrics.”
Rumi turned and smiled. “Yes! You’ve grown so much as a lyricist, really found yourself.”
“The question is, will they be able to find us?” said Mira, over by the wall, spinning her fidget ring.
The two looked her way, and their faces fell. They didn’t have to say it; they knew what they were all thinking about deep down. This minialbum release had felt different from the others, much quieter. Where normally there would be interviews, brand collabs, and fellow groups from big-name agencies giving them shoutouts, there was silence. They’d been hyping up the comeback all they could on their own social media, but there was still the fear that the lack of big promotion would hurt sales. That, and the reason for the lack, the one none of them wanted to think about.
“I’m sorry, guys,” said Zo. “If I hadn’t come out…”
“Hey!” Rumi ran over and swooped him into a hug. “No ‘ifs’. You did the right thing. I’d take zero sponsorships a thousand times over if it meant you get to be your wonderful self.”
“Agreed.” Mira got up off the wall and made her way to the pair. “I don’t want to work with stupid transphobes anyway. Now, lemme in there. I think we all need a hug.”
She wrapped her arms around Zo and Rumi, cradling them against her chest and breathing in the scent of their shampoo. God, she loved them so much. She didn’t know where she’d be without them.
Just then, the door burst open. It was Bobby, cell phone in hand and out of breath. But his face wasn’t panicked like it often was when he was in such a state: it was beaming with excitement.
“Rumi? Zo? Mira? Clear your schedules for the evening. I think you’re gonna like this.”
-
Mira curled up her long legs in the backseat of the car. “So, what's this magazine called again?”
“QKorea!” Bobby chirped from the driver's seat. “They launched a few months ago to celebrate the LGBT community in South Korea, and they've been doing features on various K-pop groups. First XLOV, JUSTB, and Dreamcatcher, and now you three!” He sighed dreamily in the rearview mirror. “It's so beautiful. I love love. I love people.”
Rumi knitted her eyebrows. “It's fine that I'm here too, right? I know I've never officially come out as bisexual, but…”
Zo giggled. “Except for the time you said on live that you listen to Girl in Red. Which is basically the same thing.”
Rumi hid her head in her hands in embarrassment, remembering what a PR mess that had been. “RUMI IS GAY” was trending on Twitter within minutes. “I just wanted to answer a comment asking for song recs!” she protested. “I didn't know what it meant!”
“Well, Rumi,” said Mira, “everyone else knows what it means.”
They parked and spilled out of the car onto the sidewalk, looking up at the tall building that would house this photoshoot. It stretched up towards the sky, almost disappearing into the clouds.
“Looks like we’re going up, up, up,” sang Zo, shimmying their shoulders.
When the elevator to the twenty-first floor opened up, they all gasped. Not at the backdrop for the photoshoot: it was a modest affair, to be expected from a newer magazine with a smaller budget. But just off the set was a dazzling array of the group’s favorite snacks, artfully arranged like the world’s sugariest charcuterie board.
“Oh. Em. Gee.”
“Bobby, you didn’t!”
“Oh, but I did!” he grinned as the group dug in and tore open the shiny wrappers. “Anything for my hunters.”
They stopped cold, Rumi with a fist full of chips, Zo already halfway through a candy bar.
“Yeah, hunters!” Bobby went on. “Because I can’t call you ‘my girls’ anymore, so I needed a new name. And you call your fans ‘hunters’ and you’re each other’s biggest fans…” He covered his mouth. “Did I say something wrong?”
Rumi laughed with nervous relief. “No, it’s really sweet. I love it. Now, come get some for yourself! You deserve it.”
Bobby was more than happy to grab a few treats before he retreated to the side, ready to let his hunters shine.
-
Stylists and artists swarmed around the group with ideas and suggestions.
“Rumi!” one said to get her attention. “What do you think of this bandeau top? It would really show off your tattoos!” He motioned to her patterns.
Rumi nodded approvingly. Yeah, sure, tattoos. When people not familiar with the demon world encountered things from it, they tended to see what they wanted to see. Which was fine with her: the pages about her on the rumor sites were crazy enough without the additional knowledge that she was only half human.
Mira pulled one shimmery pink dress with a long tulle skirt from the rack and ran over to Rumi. “Isn’t this beautiful?? I’ve never had the chance to wear something like this.”
Rumi gasped. “Wow, you would look just like a princess in that! I mean, even more than you already do.”
She blushed and smiled. “You know I’ve always wanted to, at least once.”
Meanwhile, Zo was under the watchful eye of a hairdresser, running her fingers over their amateur haircut.
“I have an idea,” she mused. “Have you ever tried a side shave?”
When they were done, Zo rejoined the other two in the hallway, practically jumping for joy.
“You guys. Men have been hiding secrets from me for far too long. No one told me it felt this awesome to have your head shaved. Well, at least part of it.”
Rumi and Mira’s jaws dropped. “Holy shit, you look so hot.”
“I feel so hot!” Zo beamed, rubbing the newly short section of hair. “Here, you gotta feel this.”
Mira followed, giving them a touch which turned to a gentle kiss on the temple. “I’m so proud of you, Zo. I love you.”
“I love you too! C’mere, Rumi. I’m not leaving you out,” he said, waggling a finger suggestively.
Rumi swooped him into a kiss on the lips and they sank into each other. Mira leaned into them lovingly before she looked up and her body suddenly stiffened.
“Uh…”
The others pulled apart and looked up as well. “What’s wro… oh.”
A member of QKorea’s staff was standing right there, looking quite surprised. It wasn’t clear how much he had seen, but it was definitely enough.
Well, so much for having a secret relationship.
“I just wanted to let you know that the makeup artists were ready to go. But I can… come back later, if you want.”
“No! No, it’s okay,” Mira reassured. “We’ll be right out.”
The man stepped away, leaving the three in silence. They looked at each other, eyes full of nervousness and uncertainty.
“I guess all we can do is get back out there.” Rumi said.
They all agreed.
-
On the set, Mira floated across the room in her pink dress, Rumi admired her pattern-adorned shoulders in the mirror over her strapless top, and Zo adjusted their binder. They had the idea to wear it in the photos under an unzipped bomber jacket, and the photographers and stylists loved it. The three of them were showcasing glamour, punk, sophistication, and edge all in one - everything they’d ever wanted to be.
They gathered in front of a tripod and began to pose under the direction of the professionals. First a casual shot, the three sitting on a prop bench with their feet swinging out. Then, leaning against the wall and posturing like movie gangsters. A sweeter shot with them linking arms, smiling softly. All ideas they knew well, concepts they were used to.
“It’s truly such an honor to meet you,” one makeup artist beamed. “Mira, I put your poster up in my room to inspire me when I first came out and started estrogen. I didn’t even know yet you were trans too! It was just meant to be.”
Everything was going perfectly, but the memory of getting caught kissing still lingered in their minds. Of course, they knew that some people speculated about them. It was inevitable for any group, for fans to ship them and make theories about how their ships were totally real, but it created so much extra tension knowing those fans were actually right. What if the man who caught them leaked it to the gossip sites? Would they have to deny it? Could they handle it?
“Alright, let’s take five,” someone announced, and the group gladly rushed off to a dressing room.
Rumi took a deep breath. “Okay, I think we have to talk about… y’know…”
“That,” Mira stated flatly.
“Yeah, that,” said Zo, fiddling with the wrapper of another candy bar. “I don’t know why I grabbed this, I’m too nervous to eat now. That’s how you know it’s bad.”
“Do we say something?” Rumi asked. “I know we’re usually so careful to not show PDA, but I feel so free here and I’m sure you two do too so I got a little carried away…”
They nodded. It was like a breath of fresh air, being among all these supportive people who wouldn’t hound them with weird questions or stare in judgement the way others did. If anyone was gonna accept the fact that they had a polyamorous relationship, it was this company. But there was a world outside of these four walls, and that was what scared them.
“I just…” Zo sighed. “I’m starting to wonder why we have to hide. Everyone knows I’m nonbinary now. Anyone who doesn’t like that has already turned their back on me, and you know I like when everyone’s back is not turned on me because they’re looking at me because they like me!” They threw their hands in the air, then dropped them. “But a part of me is also thinking… what do we have to lose now? Now that the rest of the truth is out?”
“Honestly, I’ve been thinking that too,” said Mira, her fingers on her fidget ring yet again. “I’m glad we’ve had the chance to develop this whole thing in private, but nothing in this business can stay private for long. For better or for worse. And I love you both so much. It’s hard to hide it.”
Rumi thought for a moment, then smiled. “If you’re down for it, I have an idea.”
“Oh?”
“Yep. Come closer and I’ll tell you.”
HUNTR/X stepped out of the dressing room a few minutes later, plans in hand.
“You ready to get back to work?” a photographer shouted.
Mira smirked. “Never been more ready.”
As the cameras and lights were being adjusted, Rumi spoke up.
“If you don’t mind, we have a pose of our own we’d like to use.”
The team murmured a chorus of agreement. “By all means, go ahead.”
Zo found a simple chair in the corner and positioned it in the middle of the set before sitting down. Rumi and Mira kneeled on either side, placed hands gently on Zo’s thighs and shoulders, and each kissed him on the cheek.
“And that’s the pose!” Zo cheered with a flourish of jazz hands.
The employee, the one who’d caught them previously, looked at them wide-eyed. “Are you sure? Of course we support you, but you know what they’ll say–”
“What? That we love Zo and support him no matter what? I think that was already obvious.” Rumi retorted.
“Yeah. Let them say what they want to say,” said Mira. “The only opinion that matters is ours.”
And they kissed Zo again for one final picture, holding him close as the cameras flashed.
That picture ended up landing the cover of that month’s magazine, and the image made headlines. A world-famous K-pop group, kissing where everyone could see? People went crazy with questions, but HUNTR/X never directly answered any of them. “What you see is three people who are very best friends. The rest is up to you.”
But they knew the whole story, and they knew how special it was that Zo’s wide smile was on newsstands across the country. Because that smile meant their incredible boyfriend knew how much they were loved, and that was all HUNTR/X ever wanted.